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Kshetragya (the knower of the ‘field’)--various arguements

 Chapter 13, shloka 1-4   Kshetragya (the knower of the ‘field’) This body is the ‘kshetra’ (the field/site), and the one who knows the body is the one to be called ‘Kshetragnya’. The Kshetragnya and the one who nourishes all the kshetras is but me only, and to know the kshetra and the kshetragnya is the true knowledge. Tells Krishna; there have been a lot of discussions in scriptures and various arguments among sages about who this kshetra belongs to but there is no unanimity on the same. Gyaneshwara comments on various arguments and discussions about the kshetra; Those who are believers in the theory of karma say that the entire kshetra is under the control of ‘jivatma’(the embodied soul) and is managed by the prana(the life force). The four types of airs- apaana, vyaana, udaana and samaana put a lot of effort into sustaining prana while the mind enquires and supervises them. The five sense organs and five action organs are like tools in the hands of the jivatma, that he
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The universal being

Chapter 12, shloka 15-20 The way the ocean remains unaffected if the number of sea creatures increases or decreases nor is it annoyed by their activities…also the sea creatures remain unaffected by the roar of the ocean. In the same way, the one who is unaffected by other people’s behavior; has overcome the ideas of mine and others, has overcome the ideas of pleasure and sorrow, remains devoted to me and so is always the one who is most dear to me. He who has overcome his lust and greed, is a being so full of purity and his company is so auspicious like the rays of the sun –the mere presence is sufficient to remove all the darkness (that lies within). Such a being is fearless and is contained with ‘samadhaan’(the most peaceful state). The one who has assumed his position as a universal being is uninterested in anything other than the joy of the spirit. Does not rejoice nor despair the worldly gains or losses. The one who is equipoised in pleasure and sorrow and considers everyone e

The doubtlessness and the bhakti

  Chapter 12, shloka 1-14  क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् || अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दु:खं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते || 5 || kleśho ’dhikataras te ṣ h ā m avyakt ā sakta-chetas ā m avyakt ā hi gatir du ḥ kha ṁ dehavadbhir av ā pyate   Those who try to attain the unexpressed Brahm, have to go through bhakti (the devotion). And in the absence of bhakti, they are tangled in the indulgences like attaining the position of Indra (the king of deities) and acquiring spiritual powers (Riddhi and siddhi). Such seekers have to face chaos created by lust and anger and thus are unequipped to take the spiritual journey as they take pride in their bodies and cannot attain the formless. Thus, bhakti is mandatory when one is seeking the unexpressed Brahm. When you give up those karmas that are forbidden, detach yourself from the result of the actions and surrender your manovrutti (the tendencies) to me; it is then that the attention flows towards me through body, mind, and action. And that is a do

Practicing Pause

  Geeta being a subject studying which the seeker needs to take a pause in between wherever is required. As the energies flow one needs to be mindful if they are able to contain the essence of the cosmic song. To ponder if what we are reading is being absorbed by the spirit or is feeding the mindless chatter of the mythical mind —for it (the mind) is just made up of certain visuals and thoughts encountered during one’s lifetime (a very small fragment of one’s eternal existence). The pause- and elongation of this area where one begins to connect to their own reality that lies beyond thoughts and ideas. Reasoning myself, I take the liberty to practice a much-needed pause narrating Arjuna’s experience of God’s Realisation…for now, the mind and heart is full and the sacred song overflows my conscious while I try to hold it ...for now, it calls for surrendering.

Shreenandkumarashtakam (श्रीनन्दकुमाराष्टकम्)- Praise to Shri Krishna

For the beauty, the language Sanskrit offers in its various chants and hymns, one more pick from the ancient poetry the culture of the land offers. सुन्दरगोपालं उरवनमालं नयनविशालं दुःखहरं वृन्दावनचन्द्रमानन्दकन्दं परमानन्दं धरणिधरम् । वल्लभघनश्यामं पूर्णकामं अत्यभिरामं प्रीतिकरं भज नन्दकुमारं सर्वसुखसारं तत्त्वविचारं ब्रह्मपरम् ॥ १॥ सुन्दरवारिजवदनं निर्जितमदनं आनन्दसदनं मुकुटधरं गुञ्जाकृतिहारं विपिनविहारं परमोदारं चीरहरम् । वल्लभपटपीतं कृतउपवीतं करनवनीतं विबुधवरं भज नन्दकुमारं सर्वसुखसारं तत्त्वविचारं ब्रह्मपरम् ॥ २॥ शोभितमुखधुलं यमुनाकूलं निपटअतूलं सुखदतरं मुखमण्डितरेणुं चारितधेनुं वादितवेणुं मधुरसुरम् । वल्लभमतिविमलं शुभपदकमलं नखरुचि अमलं तिमिरहरं भज नन्दकुमारं सर्वसुखसारं तत्त्वविचारं ब्रह्मपरम् ॥ ३॥ शिरमुकुटसुदेशं कुञ्चितकेशं नटवरवेशं कामवरं मायाकृतमनुजं हलधरअनुजं प्रतिहतदनुजं भारहरम् । वल्लभव्रजपालं सुभगसुचालं हितमनुकालं भाववरं भज नन्दकुमारं सर्वसुखसारं तत्त्वविचारं ब्रह्मपरम् ॥ ४॥ इन्दीवरभासं प्रकटसुरासं कुसुमविकासं वंशिधरं हृत्मन्मथमानं रूपनिधानं कृतकलगानं चित्तहरम्

Ananya Bhakti (the singularity)

Week 32, Chapter 11, Shloka 32-55 Tremendous form of Krishna, as seen by Arjuna shows everything and every one of the mortal world rushing towards the fire-filled mouth of Shri Krishna- like the moths rushing towards the fire are consumed by the fire, the same way Arjuna can see the warriors of the mortal world and the army of the battlefield rushing towards the tremendous fire of destruction in the mouth of Krishna. Having been witnessed this universal form, trembling with fear, Arjuna requests Krishna to return back to his gentle human form. Says Krishna— The universal form that you saw cannot be attained by studying Vedas or scriptures…nor by charity, penance, sacrifices can the universal form be attained. भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन | ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप || 54 || bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham eva ṁ -vidho ’ rjuna j ñā tu ṁ dra ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha tattvena prave ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha parantapa The only way to attain my universal form is

Glorious vision to behold

Week 31, Chapter 11 shloka 15-31 Having been witnessed a tremendous universal form of Shri Krishna, Arjuna trembling in awe and wonder thus describes gloriously all that he could see and behold. In the next shlokas (15-31) Arjuna sings the glory of the universal Form of Krishna – all that he saw and all that he beholds. Again, in the beautiful words of Juan Mascaro; I see in thee all the gods, and the infinity of the beings of thy creation. I see god Brahma on his throne of lotus, and all the seers and serpents of light. All-around I behold thy Infinity: the power of thy innumerable arms, the visions from thy innumerable eyes, the words from thy innumerable mouths, and the fire of life of thy innumerable bodies. Nowhere I see a beginning or middle or end of thee, O God of all, form infinite! I see the splendour of an infinite beauty that illumines the whole universe. It is thee! With thy crown and sceptre and circle. How difficult thou art to see! But I see thee: as fire, as th